Not as adventurous as heading to Providence or Mystic, but much easier to get to and still enjoyable. A local bus will take you here if it’s too far to walk or bike. But proximity to Hartford is not the reason this place is being suggested. It’s surprisingly peaceful when compared to Hartford or even other parts of Wethersfield, like the Silas Deane Highway corridor. Much of that quiet is thanks to the buffer created by both the Wethersfield Cove and Folly Brook Natural Area, land that contains trees at-risk of being cut down to accommodate a small airport in Hartford.
For the average person, a few hours in Old Wethersfield ought to do it, but I can see a history buff spending a weekend here. Historical sites and plaques are everywhere! There are museum tours to be had, but if you are like me, you’d rather move at your own pace and go the self-guided route. The Wethersfield Heritage Tour is just that — a three-mile walk with 22 interpretive markers.
Where you start is really going to be where you are at. If you need food, start at Main Street, where you have a handful of places to choose from, most of which have patio seating. Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre prepares soups and sandwiches, in addition to offering many seeds and locally grown produce, honey, flowers, and so forth for sale. Lucky Lou’s stays open late — late by small town Connecticut standards — and has quite the patio.
There are not many places for shopping — a gallery, an antique store, and a gift shop — and that’s just fine. Part of what makes this area charming is that it’s not overflowing with advertisements and a compulsion to spend.
If you happen to be in town on a Thursday from mid-May through late-October, there is a farmers’ market at the Solomon Welles House.
If you’re simply meandering about, maybe with an ice cream cone in hand from Main Street Creamery & Cafe, you can read all those interpretive markers and take in the sight of many beautiful old buildings. You will see Temple Beth Torah, a synagogue housed in what was formerly a Methodist church building. There is an Ancient Burying Ground behind the First Church. If you’re looking for a bathroom or some sense of direction, you can get that in the Visitor’s Center (200 Main Street).
To get more out of the trip, you can actually go into the museums:
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- Buttolph-Williams House
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- Captain James Francis House
- Hurlbut-Dunham House
- Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
- Wethersfield Museum at Keeney Memorial Center
There’s also the Cove Warehouse Maritime Museum, but more on that in a minute.
Check with each museum to see exact hours and admission.
Cove Warehouse Maritime Museum As you move north toward the Cove, you will see the Department of Motor Vehicles, which in itself is unimpressive, but there’s actually a story to the place. The Wethersfield State Prison was located here and on what is now Cove Park, from 1827-1967. A number of prisoners were executed there, some of whom went on to be buried in what is now Cove Park. Don’t look for grave markers — aside from one stone explaining what is below the grass, you would not know that this park is a cemetery.
Wethersfield Cove You can get to the water by walking through Cove Park and following the bike trail, or by taking Main Street all the way to the end. I’m mentioning both options in case sawhorses are across the road announcing closure of the boat launch area. This was the case on Connecticut Open House Day, and I guessed my way around because I was determined to catch the Cove Warehouse open. Despite the road closure, the museum was open and people were in the park fishing, hanging out on docks, walking dogs, and sitting on benches.
The Cove Warehouse Maritime Museum, located right next to the cove, is the last remaining 17th century warehouse from an area where there were about a half dozen. An engaging tour guide can give you a quick lesson about the role of the warehouse in Wethersfield’s trade history, along with information about how the cove formed. Look for signs near the Cove Warehouse to see maps of how the Connecticut River changed course. - If you’re looking for a change of scenery that involves Connecticut history or peace and quiet, Old Wethersfield will do.
